Fuel-feed apparatus for internal combustion engines



May 31, 1927.

v s. H. SAVAGE FUEL FEED APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENG INES Filed May 19, 1926.

attoz nag Patented May 31, liliil'l'.

entree star s rarest ore-ice.

BASIL H. SAVAGE, 033 LOS ANGELES, CALIFQRNIA, ASSIGNOR- 01? FOUR-SIXTEENTHS TO NOB-MAN B. BENNETT, ONE-E1.

RE-H5711? TO OSCAR 1*". 'BOW'MAN, FOUR-SIX- TEENTI-IS TO MANSELL A. DAVIS, AND TW'O-SIXTEENTHS T0 HARRY B. NEWCOMB,

ALL OF IJQS ANGELES, CALIFGRNIA.

FUEL-FEED APPARATUS FQR INTERNALCOMBUSTIQN ENGINES.

Application filed May 19, 1926, Serial-N0. 110,132.

This invention relates to vacuum fuel feed systems for internal combustion engines. Apparatus of this class usually comprises a main tank or reservoir having an outlet for the flow of liquid by gravity to the ca'rlmreter of the engine, a vacuum tank or auxiliary reservoir having a V2llVG-(:Oiltrolled outlet, through which liquid may flow to the main reservoir, and also having an inlet for liquid fuel, a suction outlet adapted to be connected to the intake of the engine. and a vent opening. A float within the auxiliary reservoir operates valves which alternately connect the auxiliary reservoir to the suction intake of the engine and to the atmosphere. The valves are usually actuated 1 by levers which are moved positively by the float for a certain distance and are then thrown by springs to their seated or unseated posit-ions. Thus, the valves will be operated to close the suction outlet and to open the air vent after a determined amount of fuel has been drawn into the auxiliary reservoir, and the valves will be operated to open the suction outlet and close the air vent after the same amount of fuel has been discharged from the auxiliary reservoir into the main reservoir.

in carrying out my invention, instead of en'iploying springs to effect the quick throw of the valves, and to retain them in the positions to which they are moved until a determined amount of liquid is drawn into or discharged from the auxiliary reservoir, 1 provide means whereby the buoyancy of the float is increased, by the admission of air into the float, after a determined amount of liquid has been drawn into the auxiliary reservoir, so that the float quickly closes the suction outlet and keeps this outlet closed until the determined amount of liquid is discharged into the main reservoir, when the float opens the suction outlet and closes the air inlet, whereupon the buoyancy of the float is decreased by the exhaustion of air from the float, and the latter will not rise to close the suction inlet until the determined amount of liquid has been drawn into the auxiliary reservoir.

in vacuum fuel feed systems, when the fuel is being drawn into the auxiliary reservoir, rich vapors arise in the reservoir and are carried through the suction outlet to the mtake of the engine, and this rich mixture interferes with the uniform operation of the of suction operated discharge valve for controlling the passageway between the two reservoirs.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. l' is a central vertical section through the apparatus;

2 is a snnilar view through a P V of the apparatus, partly broken away, showin g the suction outlet closed and the air vent v open;

if Fig. 1;

Fig. .4, is atop plan view of the valve mechanism for controlling the passageway between the reservoirs; and,

is a side View of the plunger shown inFigs. 1 and 4.

Referring to the drawing, it indicates the main reservoir of the fuel feed system, having a discharge outlet 1, adapted for connection to the carbureter of the engine, and Z) indicates an auxiliary reservoir arranged within the main reservoir and having a valve controlled fitting a, through which liquid may be discharged into said main reservoir.

3 a section on the line 33 of The fitting 6 comprises a tube 2, extending downwardly through a central opening 111 the bottom 3 of the auxiliary reservoir and sealed in said opening, and a cylindrical cup 4, the lower edge of which rests upon the bottom of the reservoir. This cup forms a cylindrical wall surrounding the outlet passageway. With this arrangement, it will be evident that liquid'from the auxiliary reservoir cannot discharge into the main reservoir except by overflowing the upper edge of the cup, and that some liquid will be held in the auxiliary reservoir at all times in the space surrounding the cup. A hollow tin plunger f, comprising a cap piece 5 and an angular flange 5*, fits over the cup l, and to the central part of this plunger is secured a valve stem 6, which extends through the cup and tube and has at its lower end a v; lve 7, which is adapted to seat against the lower end of the tube when the plunger 5 is lifted upwardly, The flange of the plunger has its lower edge cut away at the angles between its faces, as shown at 5 and in the top of the plunger is a small perforation 8. When the plunger and valve are in their lower po sitions,shown in the drawing, the lower edge of the plunger rests upon the bottom of the auxiliary reservoir within the liquid which is retained in the reservoir by the cup l, and the top of the plunger is held slightly above the upper edge of the cup; As the wallof the cup is circular and the surroundin wall of the plunger is angular, the liqui may rise, through the cut-away portion 5, in the spaces 9 between the plunger and the cup to the upper edge of the latter. The liquid surrounding the cup maintains a seal against the flow of air from the cup through the passageways 9 into the auxiliary reservoir.

The main reservoir is always at atmospheric pressure, and when the pressure in the auxiliary reservoir is lowered by the suction of the engine, an upward pressure is exerted against the underside of the plunger and the latter lifts quickly and closes the valve 7, and thereafter, until the pressure in the auxiliary chamber is restored to normal the valve will be held against its seat by the atmospheric pressure against the underside of the valve. The plunger and valve will be lifted by air entering the tube 2, if the level of the liquid in themain reservoir is below the end of said tube, as it may be when the apparatus is first primed, or the plunger and valve may be lifted by the upward ow of liquid in the tube and cup if the level of the liquid in the main reservoir is above the level of the oupyas it generally is. When the pressure in the auxiliary reservoir becomes normal, the plunger and valve drop by gravity and liquid can then flow through the passageways 9 and through the cup and tube into the main reservoir until the level of the liquid in the auxiliary chamher is lowered to such an extent as to cause the float to open the suction inlet, as hereinafter described, when the plunger will lift and close the valve 7, as before. The vent 8 is a relatively small orifice for preventing air from accumulating in the plunger, which air would cause the plunger to float. The leakage of air through this restricted orifice does not interfere with the lifting of the plunger by atn'iospheric pressure when the pressurein the auxiliary chamber is lowered.

The auxiliary reservoir 72 has an opening 12 at its top, adapted for connection to the fuel source, which, in an automobile, is a tank usually located below the vacuum feed apparatus. The auxiliary reservoir also has a suction outlet 13, adapted i" connection to the intake manifold of the erg in the auxiliary reservoir is a: L i 0, which is open at the bottom and winch is mounted upon a tubular stein l4, passing axially through the float. is shown, tie top of the float is secured to the stem and a bellshaped member 15 has its lower edge 15 secured to the lower ed e of the float, and this member projects upwardly within the fioat a d has an opening through which the valve stem extends. The member 15 is secured to the valve stem and erves as a centering means for the stem as well as strengtheir ing means for the float. The member 15 has openings 15" near its lower edge to permit into the the liquid fuel to flow upn made of lioat. The member 15, which is sheet metal, has a perforation 16 in its upper part and the tion t has a perforation 1?, which shown slightly lower thunthe perforaion 16. The purpose of these perforations will be presently explained.

The vaive'stem is slidable in til 19 in a plug 1), which is three: passageway 13, the opening 19' sufficient diameter to pen it move freely therein and a so to permit the suction of the engine to exhaust the an riliiiry reservoir through said enlarged ope g. iii valve seat- 20 is threaded into the suction outlet and this seat has a plurality of openings 21 and a central downwardly projecting pin 2:2, which pin is in line with the bore is in the valve stem. ll hen the valve stem is rai ed, the pin first enters the bore in the stem and closes the same, and the end of the stem then engages the valve seat and (loses the several ports The combined crosssectional area of these ports is much greater than the vcross-seenonal areas of the bore in the stem and of the opening in the ping surrounding the stem.

A fitting (5', arranged within the reservoir Z), has a vent passageway 23 which extenls downwardly through the reservoir and the float, and the thence upwardly under lower end of the valve stem is slidingly mounted in the ug nvzirdly turned portion 23 of the passagewa The valve stem fits closely within the vent ,ssagewav and has an annular groove 3st which is c losed hv wall of the passageway when the fir. its lm position. lciffzn'ations valve stem connect the groove 94: wi bore let in the stem. collar 26: secured to the stem, rests upon the upwardly projecting part L7,, of the fitting (Z when the first is down and forms a stop for lin1it-in the downward movement of the float. iVhen the float is moved upwardly and before the upper end of the valve stem rea hes its seat. the groove 2% in the lower end of the stem exth e lit)

tends above the part cl of the fitting (Z, as shown in Fig. 2, and thus the air from the vent passageway can flow :treely through the openings 25 into the float beneath thedomeshaped member 15. Thetitv'ing d has a threaded extension (5 which extends through the top plate 27 oil the apparatus, and nut 28, threaded on to the extension (Z secures the fitting to the plate. This nut has an opening which forms a continuation of the vent passageway. A tulnilar screw 30, extending through the wall of the reservoir 3) and into the fitting' (1, has a 'iassageway 31 which connects the interior (it the reservoir (4 with the vent passageway 23. 'lhus. atinospheric pressure is maintained in the reservoir a at all times. The two reservoi are suitably secured together at their upper ends, in an airtight manner.

In operation, assun'iing the apparatus to have been initially prirned with fuel, the suction of the engine lowers the pressure in the reservoir 6, and owing; to this lower pres-- sure the plunger 5 lifts ano closes the valve 7 and liquid fuel is drawn into this reservoir through the inlet 12. As the fuel enters the reservoir 7) rich vapors arise and these vapor will be drawn through the passageway 15') to the intake of the engine. These vapors are. however, diluted by air lowing through the bore 14: ot the valve stem from the atmosphere and also, to a slight ertent,

by air drawn from the float through the opening 1 The opening 17 in the float is always above the liquid level and air, which may be drawn from the tloat, will pass through the vapor to the passageway 19". but not through the liquid. Any air escaptrom the passageway 23* past the valve stem. when the latter is down. will be drawn through the opening 1.6 and thence through the opening 17 and the passageway 19", and will then pass to the intake oil? the e nine. The suction lowers the air pressure within the float so that its buoyancy is lowered when the reservoir is exhausted. whereas. it' the tloatwcre entirely enclosed its buoyancy would remain the same. A: the liquid aceun'iulates in the reservoir l). the tloat 0 will. rise gradually until the annular groove 2t in the valve stem rises partly above the up wardly progecting part (Z of the .httine; (Z,

when there will be a tree escape of atmospheric air from the vent passageway into the float. and this will suddenly increase the buoyancy ot the float. At this time, the upper end of the valve stem near its closed position and the float will quickly move upward, causing the bore 14 to be closed by the pin 22. and this will he inunediately tollowed by the closure of the ports 21 by the end of the stern. l-Vhen the pin 22 closes the bore 1r. the flow of air from the at1nos phere through the vent passageway to the intake of the engine is cut oil, and w ien the ports 21 are closed the suction through the passageway '19 ceases. lhe admission of air to the reservoir Z), through the passage way 23 and the ports 25, breaks the vacuin'u in said reservoir and the valve 7 then drops to open position. thus opening the passage-- way between the two reservoirs so that liqrid nay tlow from one to the other. As the buoyancy ot the tloat is ij'icrcased by the adn'iission of air to its interior, the float will remain in raised position, keeping the suction outlet closed, until the liquid level in the auxiliary reservoir lowered to a considerable extent through d s barge ot' the liquid from the reservoir 7). ll hei'i the liquid in the reservoir 7) has lowered to the point where the limit starts to move downward, the suction outlet is opened by the float, the valve Q" closes and the pressure in the floatas well as in the reservoir a is lowered by the. suction ol the en ne. The buoyancyot the lat is thus decreased and it drops to its lowermost position, elc ing the air vents and opening the upper end of the valve rod, permitting a limited amount or air to flow through the valve rod and inin 'le with the vapors passing to the intake ol: the Cl'tgfi'nfi, and permitting air to be drawn from the 'lloatthrmugh the port 17 and passageway 15) as before. Thus, there cannot be an excessive accumulation of air in the float at any time. When the suction outlet is opened, the lowering ot the pressure in the reservoir 7) causes liquid to be drawn tronr the fuel source into the auxiliary ICSGFVOUK, and when the liquid reaches a certain level the "teat rises and controls the *alvis as before described.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a fuel teed system tor internal cone bastion en ines. a main reservoir having an outlet for the. flowoit liquidfuel to the carbureter, a auxiliary reservoir havingan outlet for the How of liquid into said inain reservoir, a valve adapted to keep the latter outlet closed while the pressure inthe auxiliary resewoir is below atmospheric pressure. said auxiliary reservoirhaving an inlet Itor liquid fuel adapted to be connected to the source oi? fuel supply and. having a suction outlet adapted for connection to the intake of the bustion engines. a main reservoir having an outlet for the flow of liquid fuel to the carburetor, an auxiliary reservoir having an outlet for the flow of liquid into said inain reservoir, 21 valve adapted to keep the latter outlet closed while the pressure in the anaengine, a hollow floatin the I auxiliary reservoir, a valve operable by the iliary reservoir is below atmospheric presauxiliary reservoir, said flat havinga vent in sure, said auxiliary reservoir having an inletfor liquid fuel adapted to be connected to the source of fuel supply and having a suction outlet adapted for connection to the intake of the engine, a hollow float in the auxiliary reservoir, a valve operable by the float during its upward movement for cl g the suction outlet, and means for admitting air from the atmosphere into said float after has started to move upwa d.

3 In a fuel feed system for internal com bustion engines, a main reservoir having an outlet for the flow of liquid fuel to the carburetor, an auxiliary reservoir having an outlet for the flow of liquid into said main reservoir, a valve adapted to liGG/P the latter outlet closed while the pressure in the auriliary reservoir is below atmospheric pressure, said auxiliary reservoir having an inlet for liquidfuel adapted to be connected to the source of fuel supply and having a suction outlet adapted for connection to the intake of the engine, an opeu bottomed float in the auxiliary reservoir, a passageway leading from the atmosphere to a point heneath the float, a valve operable by the float for establishing communication between the passageway and float when the latter moves upward and for cutting off communication between the passageway and float when the float moves downward, and a valve, also operable by the float, for closing and opening the suction outlet.

i. In a fuel feed system for internal combustion engines, a main reservoir having an outlet for the flow of liquid fuel to the carburetor, an auxiliary reservoir having an out-let for the flow of liquid into said main reservoir, a valve adapted to keep the latter outlet closed while the pressure in the auniliary reservoir is below atmospheric pressur said auxiliary reservoir having an in let for liquid fuel adapted to be connected to the source of fuel supply and having a suction outlet adapted for connection to the intake of the engine, an open-bottomed float in the auxiliary reservoir, said float having a vent in its side wall, and means controlled by the upward movement of the float for closing the suction outlet and for admitting air into the float.

In a fuel feed system for internal combustion engines, a main reservoir having an outlet for the flow of liquid fuel to the carluiretcr, an auxiliary reservoir having an outlet for the How of liquid into said main reservoir, a valve adapted to keep the latter outlet closed while the pressure in the auxiliary reservoir is below atmospheric pressure, said auxiliary reservoir having an inlet for liquid fuel adapted to be connected to the source of fuel supply and having a suction outlet adapted for connection to the intake of the engine, an open bottomed, float in the its side wall above the line to which the liquid rises around the float, and means controlled by the upward movement of the float for closing the suction outlet and for ad initting air into the float.

6. in a fuel feed system for internal combustion engines, a main reservoir having an outlet for the flow of liquid fuel to the carbureter, an auxiliary reservoir having an outlet for the flow of liquid into said main reservoir, a valve adapted to keep the latter outlet closed while the pressure in the auxiliary reservoir is below atmospheric pressure, said auxiliary reservoir having an inlet for liquid fuel adapted to be connected to the source of fuel supply and having a suelionoutlet adapted for connection to the intake of the engine, an open-bottomed float in the auxiliary reservoir, a passageway eading from the atmosphere to a point beneath the float, a tubular stem secured to the Lil d at and connecting said passageway with a the suction outlet, said'stem adapted, when the float is raised, to admit air from said passageway into the float and to close the suction outlet. j

T. In a fuel. feed system for internal combustion engines, a main reservoir having an outlet for the-flow of liquid fuel to the car burcter, an auxiliary reservoir having an outlet for the flow of liquid into said main reservoir, a valve adapted to keep the latter outlet closed while the pressure in the auxiliary reservoir is belowatmospheric pressure, said auxiliary reservoir having an inlet for liquid fuel adapted to be connected to the source of fuel supply and having a suction outlet adapted for connection to the intake of the engine, a valve seat in the suction outlet having a port and a downwardly projecting pin, an open-bottomed float in the auxiliary reservoir, a passageway leading from the atmosphere to a point beneath the float, a tubular stem secured to the float and connecting said passageway with the suction outlet, said stem adapted, when the float is raised, to be closed by said pin and to close said port and also to admit air from said passageway into the float,

8. In a vacuum fuel feed system for internal combustion engines, a main reservoir,

an auxiliary reservoir having an outlet for the flow of liquid into said main reservoir, a wall surrounding said outlet and projecting above the bottom of the auxiliary reservoir, a plunger comprising a cap piece and a flange extending over and around said wall, and a valve attached to said plungerand adapted to close said outlet when the plunger is lifted.

9. In a vacuum fuel feed system for internal combustion engines, a main reservoir, an auxiliary reservoir having an outlet for the flow of liquid into said main reservoir,

a wall surrounding said outlet and project mg above the bottom of the auxiliary reservoir, a plunger extending over and around said wall, said plunger having a relatively small vent opening, and a valve attached to said plunger and adapted to close said outlet when the plunger is lifted.

10. In a vacuum fuel feed system for internal combustion engines, a main reservoir,

an auxiliary reservoir having an outlet for over said Wall and a flange extending downwardly around said Wall said flange and wall having a passageway therebetween, and a valve attached to said plunger and adapt lifted.

11. In a vacuum fuel system for internal combustion engines, a main reservoir, an auxiliary reservoir having an outlet for the flow of liquid into said main reservoir, a circular wall surrounding said outlet and projecting above the bottom of the auxiliary reservoir, a plunger comprising a cap extending over said wall and an angular flange extending downwardly around said wall, said flange having its lower edge notched, and a valve attached to said plunger and adapted to close said outlet when the plunger is lifted.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

BASIL SAVAGE. 

